Salary Range:
€79,951.00 - €140,500.00Job Description Summary
This role is based in Schaftenau. Novartis is able to provide relocation support only for candidates relocating within Europe. Please apply only if this location and relocation requirement are feasible for you.The Site Robotics Lead will lead the robotics transformation of the Drug Substance manufacturing site in Schaftenau, Austria, driving the development, implementation, scaling, and lifecycle management of robotics solutions across manufacturing, laboratories, warehousing, and material handling. The role combines robotics expertise, strategic leadership, program management, and stakeholder engagement to enhance productivity, quality, safety, and operational excellence while ensuring GMP, validation, and cybersecurity compliance. As the site's robotics expert, the individual will collaborate with local and global stakeholders, engineering, operations, quality, IT/OT teams, and technology partners to build a sustainable robotics ecosystem.
Job Description
Major Accountabilities
Develop and execute the site robotics strategy and roadmap, identifying high-value automation opportunities and defining long-term robotics initiatives.
Lead robotics programs end-to-end, from opportunity assessment and business case development through implementation, deployment, and value realization.
Own the full lifecycle of robotics solutions, ensuring sustainable operations, maintenance, optimization, upgrades, and replacement planning.
Evaluate, select, and deploy robotics technologies, including AMRs, AGVs, material handling robots, service robots, AI-enabled robotics, and emerging Physical AI solutions.
Drive cross-functional collaboration, partnering with manufacturing, laboratories, warehousing, engineering, quality, IT/OT, and global robotics experts.
Establish robotics governance, standards, and performance monitoring, ensuring scalability, reliability, safety, and operational excellence.
Ensure regulatory and operational compliance, including GMP requirements, validation, qualification activities, cybersecurity standards, and inspection readiness.
Build site robotics capabilities and external partnerships, acting as the site's robotics subject matter expert and fostering strong vendor and stakeholder relationships.
Minimum Requirements
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics, Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
Total 10-15 years of exp and minimum 5+ years of demonstrated experience in robotics, with hands-on implementation and deployment of industrial robotics solutions.
Proven expertise in robotics technologies such as AMRs, AGVs, automated material handling systems, robotics automation, and vision-guided systems.
Experience leading robotics or automation programs/projects from concept through implementation and operational support.
Strong leadership experience, including leading cross-functional teams, small teams, or matrix organizations.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience engaging both global and local business partners.
Fluent German and English language skills (spoken and written).
Strong understanding of industrial operations, safety, maintenance, and continuous improvement practices; exposure to GMP/pharmaceutical environments and AI-enabled robotics is preferred.
Why Novartis?
769 million people were reached with our products in 2022. We are proud of that achievement. In a world undergoing rapid digital and technological transformation, we continuously ask ourselves: How can we improve and extend even more lives?
We believe that curious and ambitious people, working together in an inspiring environment, can find new solutions and make bold decisions that drive meaningful change.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At Novartis, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to build diverse teams that reflect the patients and communities we serve. We foster an inclusive workplace that encourages bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our associates to achieve their full potential.
Our hiring decisions are based on equal opportunity and merit, regardless of gender, religion, age, skin color, race, sexual orientation, nationality, or disability.
Join the Novartis Network
If this position does not match your experience or career goals, but you would still like to stay connected and learn more about Novartis and future career opportunities, join the Novartis Talent Network here:
https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network
Imagine what you could do at Novartis!
Skills Desired
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biostatistics, Business Value Creation, Change Management, Curious Mindset, Data Governance, Data Literacy, Data Quality, Data Science, Data Visualization, Deep Learning, Graph Algorithms, Learning Agility, Machine Learning (ML), Machine Learning Algorithms, Python (Programming Language), Stakeholder Engagement, Statistical Analysis, Time Series AnalysisSkills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics, Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline
- 10–15 years of total professional experience
- At least 5 years of demonstrated robotics experience
- Hands-on implementation and deployment of industrial robotics solutions
- Expertise with AMRs, AGVs, automated material handling systems, robotics automation, and vision-guided systems
- Experience leading robotics or automation programs/projects from concept through implementation and operational support
- Leadership experience with cross-functional teams, small teams, or matrix organizations
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills with global and local business partners
- Fluent German and English language skills, spoken and written
- Strong understanding of industrial operations, safety, maintenance, and continuous improvement practices
- Exposure to GMP or pharmaceutical environments
- Experience with AI-enabled robotics
Novartis Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Novartis and has not been reviewed or approved by Novartis.
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Healthcare Strength — Pay and benefits are described as a strong overall package, supported by medical, dental, and vision insurance alongside FSAs/HSAs and disability and life coverage. Mental-health support is reinforced through an employee assistance program with psychological support and a network of mental health first aiders.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout element, with an automatic company contribution plus dollar-for-dollar matching in the 401(k). Additional retirement funding is described through an age-based defined contribution program and access to an employee share purchase plan discount.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-related benefits are framed as robust, including a global minimum of paid parental leave for new parents following birth or adoption. Added supports include domestic partner coverage, dependent-care resources, and benefits such as adoption assistance and child/elder care options.
Novartis Insights
What We Do
Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, working to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.
